For the past 11 years, over 4,000 allottees of LDA Avenue-1 Housing Scheme are running from pillar to post to get possession of their plots the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) had allotted them despite their being in litigation.

Sources in LDA’s legal wing reveal that there are total 12 blocks in the scheme with 11,982 plots comprising 5,648 plots of one kanal each and 6,334 plots of 10 marla each. At the time of launch, the LDA authorities had allotted 10,981 plots. Of them, 4,343 plots were declared in litigation. The sources say that at the time of allotment only 7,639 plots were free of litigation, adding the LDA, however, allotted all the plots and people deposited their hard-earned money to fulfil the dreams of having their own houses. They say that at the time of allotment, no announcement on litigation was made and the allottees were kept in the dark.

Of 378 developed and 3,965 undeveloped plots in litigation, 367 are in Block A, including 99 developed plots, 398 in Block B, 384 in Block C, including 39 developed plots and 391 in Block D, including 231 developed plots, 221 in Block E, 16 plots in Block F, 512 in Block G, 136 in Block J, 896 in Block K, 953 in Block L, and 69 plots in Block M are in litigation, including nine developed plots.

LDA’s Legal Department sources say the authority is in legal battles with seven private housing schemes for the possession of 3,572 kanals on which it has planned developing 600 plots of one kanal each and 2,120 plots of 10 marla each.

Giving detail of legal cases, they say the LDA is contesting seven a case of 1,675 kanals with Chiniot Cooperative Housing Society, of 328 kanals with Islamic Research Scholars Cooperative Housing Society, of 124 kanals with Public Health Engineering Employees Cooperative Housing Society, of 320 kanals with EME Cooperative Housing Society, of 600 kanals with Al-Mumtaz Housing Society, of 456 kanals with Dilawez and etc and of 69 kanals with Punjab Board of Revenue Employees Cooperative Housing Society.

The sources say since the authority has not yet developed the plots in litigation the allottees are not allowed to sale or transfer them.

The scheme for low-income government employees was launched in 2003, the price of 10 marla plot was Rs270,000 while the price of one kanal was Rs540,000.

A senior LDA official said in 2004, the prices were revised and the cost of a 10 marla plot was increased to Rs432,000 and that of one kanal was increased to Rs864,000.

A number of allottees daily visit the LDA office in Johar Town to know the status of the ongoing litigation. An allottee, Khurshid Ahmed, says when he paid for one kanal plot, he thought that he would construct his house to spend his retirement days but it remained a pipedream. He said the construction cost had almost doubled and he could not even think of constructing a house.

Arif Khan, another allottee, says he is requesting LDA officers to allow him to sell the plot so that he can marry off his daughter but to no avail.

The affectees have appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take a suo moto of the situation and provide them speedy justice. They have also requested the Punjab Chief Minister and LDA authorities to take immediate measures to resolve this issue.

When contacted, an LDA spokesman said the authority was paying a special attention to the issue and good lawyers were contesting the cases. He said as soon as the LDA got this land cleared from litigation, it would start development work.